System and method for determining deposit formation and mitigation by fuel additives

Abstract

The invention is a system and method to rate fuels and fuel additives for their tendency to form and mitigate intake system deposits in engines.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A system to rate fuels and fuel additives for the formation of deposits comprising: a) a solid nub having a deposit surface, having the contour of a surface used in an internal combustion engine   b) means for introducing fuel and/or fuel additives onto said surface, so that fuel and/or fuel additives and resulting deposits do not move on said surface, and   c) means for controlling the magnitude and duration of the temperature of said surface, such that the temperature of said surface emulates the temperature variation of a surface within an internal combustion engine, subjecting said stationary fuel and/or fuel additives and resulting deposits to said temperature variation.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means for weighing said nub, before and after introduction of fuel and/or fuel additives to the deposit surface. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 further comprising an enclosure and a means for introducing gas into said enclosure. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 1 wherein said nub is steel, aluminum, brass or any solid material, or combination thereof. 
     
     
       5. The system of claim 1 wherein said depositing surface of said nub is shaped like surfaces of a fuel intake system of a vehicle engine and said nub is composed of materials used in fuel intake systems. 
     
     
       6. The system of claim 1 wherein said means to control temperature includes a heater, thermocouple and a temperature programmer. 
     
     
       7. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for introducing fuel and/or fuel additives including a syringe pump and a hypodermic needle. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 3 wherein said enclosure is a glass bell shaped shield. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 3 wherein said gas is air. 
     
     
       10. A method to rate fuels and fuel additives for the formation of deposits onto a solid having a surface of a given shape and material that conforms to any surface used in an internal combustion engine comprising: a) introducing fuel and/or fuel additives in controlled amounts onto said surface, so that fuel and/or fuel additives and resulting deposits do not move on said surface,   b) controlling the magnitude and duration of the temperature of said surface, so that said temperature emulates the temperature variation of a surface within an internal combustion engine subjecting said fuel and/or fuel additives and resulting additives on said surfaces to said temperature variation, and   c) weighing said solid before and after said introducing step to determine the amount of deposit onto said surface.   
     
     
       11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of enclosing said solid. 
     
     
       12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of injecting a gas into said enclosure.